Pages

Saturday, July 08, 2006

A year of Daily Photos ago:I'm Still Amazed That This Is My BackyardAnd just a little while ago, while I was out watering the garden in the still, evening shade, I looked over and saw something amazing in that very same scene--a wild hen turkey leading a procession of at least five baby turkeys back and forth across the grass, just beyond the fence. The stuff of life--oh yes.

20 comments:

Wow! That is just gorgeous! I'm with you on being amazed at where I live. I was up at dawn this morning and the valley was carpeted with this fog that roiled between the tracery of cool streams and the heat of the rising sun. As River ran outside something large (eagle probably, all I saw was a shadow and a bird flying into the sunrise) was spooked and flew over the house and away. Our yearling deer are out but I've not seen this year's fawns yet...any day now.

I just found your blog yesterday and have so enjoyed looking through the pictures and archives. My grandmother had 58 acres in Oregon, long since subdivided and gone from the family. How sad I think. I'll definitely come back and visit your site, love it all ....

That photo is fab! I still get all ooh and ahh when I see a rabbit here or there...a family of turkeys would positively have me running for a camera! I recently saw some amazing butterly jewelry (made after the butterflies "naturally transpire" that capture that wonderful blue irridescent sheen.

Oh, how beautiful. Thank you for carrying that camera around and taking the time to share your world with us. That photo needs to be enlarged, framed and hung in your home. I am so glad you live in a REAL farmhouse. I think I would have been disappointed if you didn't. They are my favorites. My mother could take her meager possesions and turn an old house into a home. Everyone loved to visit and have coffee with homemade preserves and biscuits or a meal with her canned black-eyed peas, beets, relishes, etc. My children still talk about her punch made from wild plums she would gather and "put the juice up" in quart jars. Your blog takes me down memory lane and inspires me to get out in my yard and get busy. Now, where did I put all of those canning jars and freezer bags? (My green garlic has sprouted)

Have you read the book Maine,a year of country life? It is one of the most beautiful books. It was written by Stanley Joseph and Lynn Karlin. They bought the old Nearing farm( Good Life). This book is a great example of how to blend essays, photography, recipes, and gardening into one heck of a book. I would be more than happy to send you a copy to a post office near you.

Wow - that truly is the stuff of life. You have such a wonderful point of view. I used to be out on the farm (now displaced)and I can't describe what your blog has done for me. I had gotten away from seeing the "simple things" for a while...after reading here, my eye for the "stuff" has returned. Thank you!

Wow Susan, that photo is utterly stunning! Belated Happy Birthday to you, will send email with goings on round here soon but had to stop by and say Wow! Surely good enough for any competitions that you come upon, an absolute cracker. Bev.

Hi KM,One of these days I will make it out to your little valley for a visit. I'll give you plenty of advance warning, of course, so you can bake me tons of bread and make me dozens of your special chocolate cream puffs. : )

Hi Beth,Thank you so much. And thanks for taking the time to write.

Hi Candy,You know, I actually have no idea what kind of butterfly that is. There are a fair amount of them flitting around the garden, though, so it must not be too rare.

I'm sure there is a butterfly expert out there somewhere. Help please! : )

Yes, it was a real treat to see that turkey family. For a few years there were two families that would come out together, and I was afraid they had moved on. Once we were even treated to flying lessons. That was hysterical. Those birds don't even look like they can fly (and sometimes, when I come upon them in the woods and they start jogging down the road--I wonder if they forget that they can--or that it's simply easier to run than try to get liftoff!) The babies were doing pretty well for the most part, but I saw one go up and then thud! right back down. So sad--but really funny, too. And I'm sure it wasn't hurt.

Hi Joanna,Well welcome to the farm! Thanks for taking the time to say hello. And yes, come back and e-visit anytime--all of the fun and none of the work!

Hi Sonia,Thanks so much.

Hi Dawn,LOL, I knew I didn't have time to grab the camera before the turkeys disappeared into the woods (one of the few times it wasn't slung around my neck of course!), but I definitely start snapping away at rabbits. I have this one that moved into the garden and am becoming a little obsessed. : )

Hi Mary Lou,Oh, it's a real old farmhouse alright (and not in the "cute/charming/quaint" way, LOL). But it sounds like we could have definitely used your mother's touch--and all that lovely preserved food! The punch doesn't sound bad either. : )

Oh, such good news that your garlic has sprouted!

Hi Wendy,As a matter of fact, that is one of my favorite books, and I have been meaning to mention it and add it to the (so far nonexistent) "On My Bookshelf" list in the sidebar.

I have owned my cherished copy since 1991, and boy did I read it a lot between then and moving to the country in 1994. Definitely the stuff of dozens of daydreams. (n fact, Maine was on the list of Places That Sound Really Wonderful.) You are right--it's a fantasic combination of elements all bundled up into one inspirational package.

I was shocked and saddened to hear a few years ago that Stanley Joseph had passed away. I don't know what happened to him--do you? Does Lynn still live on the farm? Oh, I can't tell you how many times I've flipped through that book.

And thank you so much for the kind offer to send me a copy--you are too sweet. And you certainly have good taste (and know mine)!

Hi Sunidesus,Yes, full grown wild turkeys can get pretty large--especially the males when they have their wings all out (I am blanking out the technical term for this, which will get me no end of hassling from Joe when he reads this, LOL) because we see them do it all the time. They will strut back and forth in the hayfield showing off for the girls. It is super.

Hi Ms.Dafarm (cute!),Hearing that I inspired someone in some special little way--whether it was deciding to plant some lettuce seeds for the first time, or digging up half their yard and turn it into a vegetable garden, or finally getting up the courage to try baking a batch of scones, or simply starting to look for the simple things again.

I can't even begin to explain how wonderful that makes me feel. Thank you.

Hi Beverley,Glad you like the photo so much. Looking forward to your newsy email. : )

Hi Vickie,Okay, by this point I am now tryingon the wall where I could hang an enlarged print of this photo. I'm thrilled it has been so popular!

Susan, From what I have read Lynn and Stanley divorced shortly after the book was released. I knew Stanley had died. So sad,but I dont know how it happened. Lynn does garden photography for a living. I think She has a web site. Hopefully one day I will be able to put one of your books on my shelf, right next to Stanley and Lynn's book.

I love your blog! Haven't left a message till today, just had to say what a beautiful butterfly that is!Turkeys.. my son lives in Oregon, in the forest, and wild turkeys are everywhere! He and his girlfriend love to watch them.

My friends, the butterfly experts (and they actually are published on the topic) say it's probably a Pipevine Swallowtail, although there are others who are in a "mimicry ring" with them so there's a small chance it's one of the mimicers. I'm going to a presentation of theirs tonight, so maybe I'll have more tidbits tomorrow.

December 2015 update: Hi! For some reason I can't figure out, Blogger hasn't been letting me leave comments on my own blog (!) for the last several months, so I've been unable to respond to your comments and questions. My apologies for any inconvenience! You're always welcome to email me: farmgirlfare AT gmail DOT com.

Hi! Thanks for visiting Farmgirl Fare and taking the time to write. While I'm not always able to reply to every comment, I receive and enjoy reading them all.

Your feedback is greatly appreciated, and I especially love hearing about your experiences with my recipes. Comments on older posts are always welcome!

Please note that I moderate comments, so if I'm away from the computer it may be a while before yours appears.

I try my best to answer all questions, though sometimes it takes me a few days. And sometimes, I'm sorry to say, they fall through the cracks, and for that I sincerely apologize.

I look forward to hearing from you and hope you enjoy your e-visits to our farm!